Literacy Makeover? Not! Ed Research Makeover? Why Not!

Lestein elevates the matter of “reliably teaching kids to read” so far into the academic stratosphere that it's lost to sight. Having viewed the three episodes that Lestein dismisses/”analyzes”, I can report an “N=1 ethnographic study” that they illuminate the matter statistically and practically more significantly than the present article. Compared with aggregate TV coverage of instuctional/educational matters, I'd rate the episodes at "above proficient.

Three TV episodes, of course, can't be expected to do much about “literacy.” But conduct a thought experiment: Comparing the episodes with this article, which was more in the “Public Interest.”? My data are that the episodes win every time.

The current professional and political events in the UK (and in France) related to reading instruction have important policy and practice implications for the United States and all English-speaking countries. But Lestein moves in the direction of trivializing rather than illuminating the events. A radical makeover of educational research is not a bad idea, but it's not yet ready for prime time.